Before a well is drilled, before a meal is served, before a child receives school supplies, something even more important happens. Someone shows up. Throughout Scripture, God's love is revealed through His presence. When Adam and Eve sinned, God came looking for them. When Israel suffered in Egypt, God heard their cries. And in the greatest act of love the world has ever known, Jesus came to dwell among us. He didn't love humanity from a distance. He entered our world. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. In South Africa, clean water, nutritious meals, educational opportunities, and spiritual development reach thousands of children. Those ministries change lives, but they all begin with relationships. Before physical needs can be met, people are known by name, their stories are heard, and they are reminded they are seen, valued, and loved by God. Mission teams do plenty of practical work: fitting children for shoes, serving meals, planting gardens. None of that is the real reason they matter. What sticks with people, long after a team has flown home, is being worshiped alongside, played with on a dusty playground, and prayed over by name. In a world that is growing increasingly disconnected, being present is a profound expression of the Gospel. When we choose to be with people instead of merely doing things for them, we represent the heart of Christ. Not everyone is called to travel across the world, but every believer is called to the ministry of presence. For one person, it might mean a weekly visit to a lonely neighbor. For another, it might be a quiet, faithful habit of praying for a missionary by name. Wherever God has placed us, we have opportunities to make His love tangible by simply showing up. The Gospel is more than words. It is God's love made visible through His people. When we choose to be present, Christ is still drawing near to His children through us. Dr. Jim Blessman is the founder and president of Blessman International, a Christian ministry dedicated to sharing the love of Christ by serving vulnerable children and families throughout South Africa.

The MidSouth Annual Conference continues to strengthen its churches by focusing on the core of Wesleyan ministry ; making disciples of Jesus Christ, spreading scriptural holiness, and equipping local congregations to carry out the work of the Kingdom . Rather than relying on one signature initiative, the conference has developed a broad network of ministries that encourages churches to pray, grow, multiply, and serve together while remaining attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Prayer has become a defining characteristic of the conference. Through regional Symphony of Prayer gatherings, Pathways to a Praying Church webinars, and monthly days of prayer and fasting, congregations are being encouraged to deepen their dependence on God as the foundation for every ministry. That emphasis extends beyond corporate worship into leadership development, discipleship, missions, evangelism, youth ministry, disaster response, and practical ministry training. The conference is also investing heavily in equipping both clergy and laity for faithful service. Certified Lay Minister courses, International Leadership Institute training, ENGAGE training, MinistrySafe resources, and a growing number of workshops are preparing leaders to serve their churches with confidence and biblical conviction. A new multigenerational ministry survey will help shape future training opportunities to better meet the needs of congregations across the conference. Church planting has become one of MidSouth's most intentional areas of ministry. The Church Planting and Multiplication Team has developed the NEST process , which is: Nurture, Evaluate, Skill-Build, and Take-Off . NEST provides a clear pathway for new church plants and multiplying ministries. The process is supported by the Multiplying Disciples Practicum, Refocus Your Church cohorts, coaching relationships, and a boot camp for church planters. These efforts are designed not only to establish new congregations but also to help existing churches launch satellite campuses, house church networks, and other multiplying expressions of ministry. This commitment to multiplication is rooted in discipleship. Every church planting effort begins with prayerful discernment and requires intentional planning for evangelism, leadership development, accountability, and disciple-making. Conference leaders see multiplication not simply as increasing attendance but as forming mature disciples who, in turn, make disciples. The conference's vision for missions reflects the same outward focus. Local churches have embraced an Acts 1:8 model of ministry (from their own communities to the ends of the earth). During their 2026 Annual Conference, nine congregations were recognized as Acts 1:8 churches for their commitment to local and global mission. MidSouth supports Thailand Now, Operational Christmas Child and has conference partnerships with Central Europe, Western Pacific, Mozambique and Nile Valley . Beginning in 2027, they plan to connect individual congregations directly with churches in these regions through four-year partnerships centered on prayer, encouragement, Bible study, relationship building, mutual visits, and shared ministry rather than financial support alone. The conference celebrated numerous milestones during the past year, including a mission offering exceeding $78,000, recognition and prayer for 22 new Certified Lay Ministers, continued congregational growth, successful Symphony of Prayer gatherings across their region. They also celebrated a growing disaster-relief network that includes trained volunteers, emergency supplies, rebuilding grants, and practical assistance to churches responding to crises. One recent example illustrates how that connectional ministry functions. After devastating flooding in eastern Kentucky, Anchor Point Church in Hardy immediately began serving its community through meals and prayer. When the congregation reached out for assistance, the MidSouth Disaster Relief Team quickly mobilized volunteers, delivered flood buckets, cleaning supplies, water, and fans, and helped connect affected families with recovery grants. Rather than replacing the ministry of the local church, the conference strengthened it, allowing the congregation to serve its neighbors more effectively while demonstrating the power of the broader connection. Stories of renewal are also emerging within local congregations. As Shady Grove Church in Dandridge, Tennessee celebrates its 200th anniversary, it is experiencing fresh growth through expanded worship services, a flourishing children's ministry, new ministry leaders, revitalized midweek programming, and discussions about expanding its facilities to welcome even more people into the life of the church. Behind much of this work are faithful clergy and lay leaders serving throughout the conference. MidSouth recognized Fairview Church for once again hosting the Annual Conference, Carolyn Mash-King and the Prayer Team for cultivating a growing movement of prayer, David Calhoun, Charles McEntyre , and the Missions and Evangelism Team for ENGAGE training and Acts 1:8 initiatives, Suzanne Whitaker and the Disaster Relief Team for mobilizing churches during times of crisis, Brian Ebel and the Church Planting and Multiplication Team for developing the NEST process, Rex Thigpen and the Certified Lay Ministry leaders for equipping lay servants across the conference, Amy Carlson and the Communications Team for connecting churches through multiple communication platforms, Conference Lay Leader David Duggan for his faithful servant leadership, and the many musicians, worship leaders, teachers, volunteers, and staff whose service helped make the 2026 Annual Conference both spiritually enriching and exceptionally well organized. Looking ahead, MidSouth's priorities remain firmly rooted in its mission to make disciples and spread scriptural holiness. Conference leaders plan to strengthen prayer initiatives, expand practical ministry training, implement the newly approved conference leadership structure, continue developing the NEST church planting system, launch international church-to-church partnerships, broaden youth ministry opportunities, and grow the conference's disaster relief network. Throughout each initiative runs a common thread: local churches are empowered to lead ministry within their own communities while drawing strength from a connection that shares prayer, wisdom, encouragement, resources, and mission. In many ways, MidSouth is demonstrating our connectional structure at its best. Churches are not working in isolation but strengthening one another so that, together, they may faithfully proclaim the gospel, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and spread scriptural holiness throughout their communities and around the world.